Retaining means for diablo toy



Jail. 24, 1961 R'. R. POLIAKOFF 2,968,889

RETAINING MEANS FOR DIABLO TOY Filed July 27, 1959 INVENTOR. RAYMOND R.POLIAKOFF United States Patent 2,968,889 RETAINING MEANS FOR DIABLO TOYRaymond R. Poliakoif, 1109 N. 1st St., B'oonville, Ind.

Filed July 27, 1959, Ser. No. 829,735

6 Claims. (CI. 46-60) My invention relates to aerial tops of the diablotype wherein the top is juggled on a string, and more particularlyrelates to an improvement wherein means is provided for retaining thetop on the string so that beginners and small children can successfullyspin the top without having the top frequently fall off of the string,the retaining means being easily removable when an operator of greaterskill is manipulating the top.

Prior art diablos comprise a top made up of two conical portions joinednear their apexes in axial alignment, and manipulating means usuallycomprising two stick-like handles having a length of string tied betweentheir outer ends.

It is an object of this invention to provide retaining means forpreventing the top from accidentally falling oif of the string duringmanipulation of the diablo.

It is another object of the invention to provide retaining means whichis easily removable without requiring untying of the string, the removalof the retaining means permitting tossing of the top from the string inthe manner well known in the prior art.

A further object is to add retaining means to the known combination of atop and a string-type manipulating means wherein the retaining meanslimits the free movement of the top on the string without restrictingthe manipulation of the top to such a degree that the toy loses itsentertainment value to unskilled operators and small children, wherebythe utility of diablo toys is extended to persons who would otherwisefind manipulation of the toy too difficult.

Referring now to the drawing showing two embodiments of the retainingmeans,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the novel combination of a diabloincluding a top and string manipulating means, and a band for retainingthe top on the string,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the string manipulating means with theband slipped upwardly along the string to increase the size of thestring loop below the band and thereby permit removal of the toptherefrom,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a continuous ring for use as aretaining means, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a modification comprising aring-type retaining means of closed helical form.

Referring now to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a top 1 having two conicalportions 1a and 1b joined near their apexes to form a V-shaped annulargroove adapted to receive a string 2a which forms part of themanipulating means 2. The top 1 may also include holes to provide ahumming noise when the top is spinning at a high rate.

The manipulating means 2 further includes two sticklike handles 2b and2c, to the outer ends of which the string 2a is secured as shown inFigs. 1 and 2.

The structure thus far described with respect to the drawing comprises adiablo according to the prior art.

To this known diablo, the present invention adds retainice ing ringmeans generally designated by the reference character 3, which denotesnot only the specific forms shown in Figs. 3 and 4, but also any othersuitable retaining band means.

The band 3a shown in Fig. 3 is a continuous annular ring. The band 3bshown in Fig. 4 is made substantially continuous by overlapping the endsof the helix forming the band. In either case, however, the band shouldbe very light-weight so that it rides up the string 2a as shown in Fig.1 during manipulation of the top.

A thin plastic ring has been found quite suitable because where thethickness of the ring is approximately equal to the thickness of thestring, the weight of the ring is almost negligible. Also the frictiondrag between the string 2a and the plastic of the ring 3 is minimal.

Fig. 1 shows the diablo in operation with the band 3 in place. As thehandles 2b and 2c are respectively raised and lowered, the band 3 passesthe string 2a therethrough and rides up somewhat above the V-shapedgroove in the center of the top. The diameter of the band 3 should notbe very much smaller than the diameter of the top at the groove, lestsmall band-diameter unduly restrict passage of the string 2atherethrough. On the other hand, the band 3 should not be much largerthan the diameter of the top at the groove or the bunching effect of theband on the string 2a will be lost and the top will become unstable onthe string.

As stated above, when an operator of greater skill desires to manipulatethe diablo without the limiting effect of the band 3, he may remove theband by raising it upwardly along the string, as shown in Fig. 2, untilthe lower loop 2d becomes large enough to permit removal of the top fromthe loop. Once the top has been separated from the string, the band 3may then be slipped downwardly and off of the string.

5 do not limit my invention to the forms shown in the drawing, forobviously changes may be made within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. The improvement in a diablo toy including a top having an annulargroove and including string means for supporting the top at said groove,said improvement comprising retaining means in the form of a closed bandsurrounding the portions of the string above the top and *itingseparation between said portions to a distance no greater than thediameter of the groove.

2. In a device as set forth in claim 1, said band comprising a ring oflight-weight material.

3. In a device as set forth in claim 1, said band comprising a helicalmember having its ends overlapped to form a substantially closed ring.

4. The combination of a top having two frusto-conical portions joinednear their apices to form an annular groove; manipulating meansincluding a string passed partway around said groove to form a loopsupporting the top; and retaining means for retaining the top in theloop of the string comprising a closed band surrounding the portions ofthe string extending upwardly from the loop and limiting separationbetween said portions to a distance no greater than the diameter of thegroove.

5. In a combination as set forth in claim 4, said band comprising a ringof light-weight material.

6. In a combination as set forth in claim 4, said band comprising ahelical member having its ends overlapped to form a substantially closedring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,744,354 Watkins et al. Nov. 4, 1952

